Explosively-operated terminating device



Feb. 21, 1967 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 W. F. BROSKE EXPLOSIVELY-OPERATEDTERMINATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. BROSKE' BYW W 4PM Feb. 21, 1967 w, BRQSKE EXPLOSIVELY-OPERATED TERMINATING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D60. 18, 1964 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM F. B ROiKE BY Ma, MM, 93 M United States Patent 3,304,962EXPLOSIVELY-OPERATED TERMINATING DEVICE William F. Broske, Camp Hill,Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,521 7 Claims. (Cl. 140-113) Thetechnique of splicing electrical cables requires a secure connectionbetween the cables to be joined, whereby the joint will withstandvibration forces, expansion and contraction, resist corrosion, and haveexcellent conductive properties. Cold-forging, properly performed, willprovide these attributes by causing an intimate junction of metal toeffect a cold-welding of the items to be joined.

A difiiculty in cold-forging techniques occurs in attempting to joinlarge-sized wires (e.g., 1/ 0 wire and larger), especially in remotelocations such as might be experienced by a power company lineman. Oneremedy has been the development of a powder-actuated tool to achieve thehigh crimping forces necessary in such applications, and concurrentlyreducing the size of the device required for effecting the cold-forgedconnection.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for cold-forging aconnection between a pair of wires whereby the force-generating means isstored within the connector. It is also an object of this invention toprovide a self-contained, explosive charge in an electrical connectorwhereby the charge may be detonated to actuate the connector and therebyjoin a plurality of wires.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments arenot intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but aregiven for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in theart may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof andthe manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it invarious forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of aparticular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, clamping a pair of wires;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken through plane 22 on FIGURE 1, priorto actuation of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating the device after itis actuated; and

FIGURES 4-6 are views corresponding to FIGURES 13, illustrating oneembodiment of a means for restraining the piston against longitudinalmovement.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the connector comprises an outer C-shaped clampmember, generally indicated C, adapted to accommodate a pair of wires Wand W. In assembled position, each of the wires is adapted to fit intothe upper and lower bights, respectively, of the clamp member C. Awedge-shaped block B is likewise adapted to fit between the Wires W andW and, due to the taper on the upper and lower surfaces of the block,the block is designed to secure the wires W and W in the clamp means B.(One of the Wires, for example, might be the through-wire strung betweenutility poles, and the other wire would be a tap wire.)

The block -B comprises a body member having arcuately-curved portions 12and 14 on opposed surfaces of the body member. These surfaces 12 and 14are concave and designed to match the particular sized Wire designed tobe connected.

The body member 10 (FIGURE 2) also includes an opening 16 axiallyaligned with the body member. The

aperture 16 is undercut at 18 to provide a piston chamber, which ispartially disposed within the body member 10. The piston chamber 18 maybe lined with stainless steel 19 for protective purposes and contains anexplosive charge 19 therein.

A piston rod 20 partially extends through the aperture 16 and is securedto a piston 22, movably fitted within the chamber 18. A pair of washers24 and 24' surround the piston rod 20 and have an outer diameterequivalent to the inner diameter of the piston chamber 18. The explosivecharge 19 is disposed between the washers 24, 24' and retained in placeby the piston 22. The other end of the piston rod has a baling eye 26which is capable of being secured to means for restraining the pistonagainst longitudinal movement.

One way of restraining longitudinal movement of the piston comprises atongue-shaped member 28 (FIGURES 46) projecting integrally from one endof the clamp member C. A pin 30 extends laterally from the tongue andprovides a pivot for the baling eye 26. It is noted that thisarrangement permits the piston rod 20, piston 22, and the wedge block Bto pivot about the pin 30 while restraining the piston rod 20 and piston22 against longitudinal movement.

Actuation means includes a second aperture 32 which forms a passagewaybetween the chamber 18 and the outer surface of the block B. A bushing34 is threaded into this aperture and a firing pin 36 is slidablydisposed within the bushing 34. A washer 37 on the firing pin retainsthe firing pin in the bushing 34. The inner end of the firing pin 36 isadapted to strike a primer 38 which is press-fitted into the bushing 34and communicates with the interior of the piston chamber 18 through anaperture 39 between the piston 22 and the undercut portion.

Operation: When it is desired to secure a pair of wires W and W inconductive relationship, the device is assembled in the relationshipillustrated by FIGURE 2. The Wires are positioned within the C-shapedmember with the body member B placed therebetween. Pivotal motion of theblock B (FIGURE 5) facilitates positioning the wires within the C-shapedmember. The body member B is moved forwardly until it frictionallyengages each of the wires W, W. In this position (FIGURE 2), the piston22 is near the outer forward end of the chamber 18.

Detonation of the primer 38, by striking a blow upon the firing pin 36,causes the primer 38 to ignite the powder 19 in the chamber adjacent thepiston 22. Since the piston rod 20, piston 22, and the outer shell C areall fixed relative to each other, the reaction force causes the bodymember B to be driven relative to the clamp C, thereby tightly engagingthe wires W, W between the clamp C and the body member B. The forcegenerated by the explosive results in wire deformation whereby the wireW is squeezed between the arcuate surface 12 and the corresponding bightof the C-shaped member to form a strong, intimate bonding of thematerial of the wire to the material of the connector. The same effectoccurs with regard to the material of the wire W and the arcuate surface14.

It will be observed that this device provides a simple means forsecuring large-sized wires together with the power-generating meancontained within the device.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently difi'erent modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing descriptionand accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the fell-owing claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A device for securing wires together comprising: a pair of relativelymovable connecting members adapted to secure a wire therebetween, andexplosively-operated means disposed in one of said members for causingrelative motion between said members.

2. A device for securing wires together comprising: a C-shaped clamp, awedge means adapted to fit into said clamp to retain wires therebetween,a chamber in said wedge, explosive means in said chamber, a piston insaid chamber, means securing said piston to said C-shaped clamp, wherebydetonation of said explosive means causes the Wedge to travel relativeto the C-shaped member.

.3. A device for securing wires including an outer clamp member, a wedgemeans adapted to fit into said clamp, a piston chamber in said wedgemeans, a piston in said chamber, a piston rod secured at one end to thepiston and at the other end to the clamp and explosive means in saidwedge for actuating the wedge relative to the clamp.

4. A connecting device for wire comprising: a C-shaped outer member, awedge adapted to fit into said C-shaped member, a chamber extendingaxially of said wedge, piston means in said chamber, means securing saidpiston to said outer member, and explosively-actuating means in saidwedge for driving said wedge relative to the piston.

5. An actuating device for utilizing explosively-generated powercomprising: a cylinder, a piston disposed in said cylinder, a piston rodsecured to said piston extending outside the cylinder, explosive meanson the working side of the piston, and means for restraining the pistonagainst axial movement whereby detonation of the explosive means causesthe cylinder to move relative to the piston.

6. A wire-connecting device comprising: a C-shaped clamp, 21 wedge meansadapted to fit into said clamp, a cylinder in said wedge, a piston insaid cylinder, means for securing said piston to said clamp, and meansin said device for driving said wedge relative to said clamp.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the means in the device for drivingsaid wedge comprises explosive means in said wedge and means forde-tonating said explosive means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,129 12/1936Temple l13 X 3,212,534 10/1965 Broske 140-113 3,212,535 10/1965 Broske140113 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR SECURING WIRES TOGETHER COMPRISING: A PAIR OF RELATIVELYMOVABLE CONNECTING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SECURE A WIRE THEREBETWEEN, ANDEXPLOSIVELY-OPERATED MEANS DISPOSED IN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR CAUSINGRELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS.